CA AB 2528

Title: Williamson Act contracts: cancellation: energy projects.
Author: Joaquin Arambula

Summary
AB 2528, as amended, Arambula. Williamson Act contracts: cancellation: energy projects. Existing law, the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to enter into contracts with owners of agricultural land to preserve the land for agricultural use, as specified, in return for reduced property tax assessments. The act authorizes a landowner to petition the city council or board of supervisors, as applicable, for cancellation of the Williamson Act contract under specified circumstances and imposes a cancellation fee equal to 12.5% of the fair market value of the land without the restriction of the Williamson Act contract. The act also authorizes a landowner of specified agricultural land to petition the board to cancel the Williamson Act contract in order to designate the land as a farmland security zone, whereby the land is eligible for a specified property tax valuation and taxed at a reduced rate for specified special taxes. The act authorizes a landowner to petition the council or board, as applicable, to cancel a farmland security zone contract under specified circumstances and imposes a cancellation fee equal to 25% of the fair market value of the land without the restriction of the contract.This bill would authorize a landowner to petition the board or council to cancel a Williamson Act contract or a farmland security zone contract if the land meets specified criteria, including, among other things, not having permanent access to sufficient water to support commercially viable irrigated agricultural use on the land, and the landowner would be subject to a land use entitlement for specified energy projects. The bill would authorize a board or council to approve the cancellation if the board or council finds that the land does not have permanent access to sufficient water to support commercially viable irrigated agricultural use and the landowner would be subject to a land use entitlement for the specified energy projects that would use less water than the agricultural use on the land. The bill would prohibit the imposition of a cancellation fee.The act requires a board or council, as applicable, to adopt rules governing the administration of agricultural preserves, including rules related to compatible uses consistent with specified principles of compatibility.This bill would specify that a cancellation under the bill’s provisions does not prevent a board or council from determining that the specified energy projects are a compatible use on contracted land.

Status
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 24).

Bill Documents
CA AB 2528 - 03/18/24 - Amended Assembly
03/18/24 - CA AB 2528 (03/18/24 - Amended Assembly)